A real girl's guide to LA fitness

Category: Sweat and the City

I was introduced to HEX Performance detergent almost two years ago and have been using it religiously ever since. That’s why I was so excited when the HEX team reached out to share my experience with my community.

As you can imagine, my hamper is always overflowing with workout clothes. Whether they’re drenched from a Flywheel class, or simply smelly because I’ve been living in them (both in and out of the gym), I needed a detergent to help combat the odor from exercise. I spend a lot of money on quality athleisure, which is why it’s also important that I keep it in great condition.

HEX Performance detergent has outdone itself. Evan and I are obsessed with the detergent pods because they truly make doing laundry a no hassle experience. While other detergents use strong fragrances to hide the stink, HEX totally eliminates odor caused by sweat, bacteria, and mildew.

Since we’ve been using the liquid detergent for so long, we decided to put HEX single dose pods to the test after a particularly sweaty spin sesh together to see if such a small pod could really get the job done. To be brutally honest, Evan STINKS after he exercises. I know that sounds cruel, but it’s the kind of smell that you can get a whiff of even across the apartment! With both of our outfits drenched from class, we knew it was the perfect opportunity to truly see if HEX pods lived up to its claims.

Once the laundry was done and out of the dryer, I was shocked by how fresh it smelled. The odor from our tough workout was totally gone, and left in its place was a clean scent. We are always impressed by HEX, but after putting the pods to the true post-Flywheel test, we are happy customers!

Looking to make HEX part of your laundry routine? HEX can be purchased here! Better yet, use my unique code HEX-0Z31L2 to receive 20% off a HEX Starter Kit!

It’s clear that summer is coming…quickly! We went from highs in the 60s to 80 degree temps within just a week and it’s making me miss my sweaters already. I typically have a bit of a problem staying hydrated throughout the day, but now that the heat is here it’s imperative that I get my act together and start chugging!

Staying hydrated is probably the easiest most important thing you can do for your health. Drinking enough fluids helps your entire body run efficiently, including your heart, brain, and muscles. Not being hydrated can cause dizziness, headaches, fatigue, and cramps. Having enough water before you exercise will make you feel more alert and you’re able to work out for longer.

While getting in the recommended amount can be tough, I’m partnering with Propel to share three ways to stay hydrated.

Use bottles with easily accessible tops. I always drink more water when it’s easier to do so. For example, if I’m drinking through a straw that’s a few inches from my face I’m more likely to sip away than if I have to unscrew the cap. This is why I love the sport top bottles from Propel Electrolyte Water.

Keep water with you no matter where you go. I know it’s heavy, but if you have it with you you’re way more likely to stop and chug. I keep a glass bottle in car at all times that is full of water. Even if it’s toasty, I know that it’s there when I’m stuck in traffic.

Spice it up with flavored options. Water can be a little…boring and tasteless. Some people enjoy that, but others need to make it a little exciting. I recommend adding fresh fruit or drinking a flavored water (I love the grape flavor from Propel…I know, grape is never anyone’s first choice but this one is delicious).

I am dedicated to living a healthy lifestyle and my biggest tip to getting a workout in every day is to pack. a. gym. bag. and bring it to work. It becomes a daunting task at night, but throwing together the essentials to get from the office straight to the gym makes all the difference. Raise your hand if you’ve made an accidental pit stop at home to “grab something” and ended up stuffing your face with crackers on the couch while binge watching Instagram stories. Oops, just me?

When it comes to my gym bag, I have a few essentials. The obvious: a sports bra, leggings, top, socks, and sneaks. But the accessories are perhaps the most important; take note! A water bottle, headphones, and deodorant!

Secret’s Active collection will keep you smelling fresh not only throughout the day, but also during AND after your sweat sesh. It’s quickly become my deodorant of choice for workouts from barre to spin, because it works better the MORE you sweat!

I’ve spent the last week using the Secret Active Invisible Solid in “Cool” and am so impressed that it goes on dry AND gives me odor and sweat protection for up to 48 hours. The smell reminds me of a pile of fresh laundry that you just want to jump into.

Want to get your hands on the brand new line? Click here to buy at Target!

There are so many ways to get moving, and I want to know, how do you #ChooseActive? Comment below!

For the third year in a row, I had the pleasure of partnering with Propel for their epic fitness festival weekend. Each year it gets bigger and better. From renting out a sweet spot in Venice and meeting Nick Jonas in 2016, to having a photoshoot in NYC in 2017, to gettin low to Ludacris this year, it’s been quite an epic ride!

This year, I attended Industry Day prior to the festival weekend launch. Industry Day is targeted towards fitness professionals (trainers, studio owners, etc) and is full of inspiring panels and lots of knowledgeable guests. As a self-proclaimed social media addict, I was most excited for the Break the Internet panel with my friend Katie Dunlop of @lovesweatfitness, Remi Ishizuka of @rrayyme, and Lauryn Evarts Bosstick of @theskinnyconfidential. These ladies have a combined Instagram following of 1.1 million and are all killin it as girl bosses of their own making. I had so many takeaways, but here are my five favorite tips from the panel.

Five Ways to Amp up Your Social MediaPresence

The best way to build your following isn’t by going out and looking for new followers, it’s by actively engaging and building trust with your CURRENT community. If your community trusts you and believes in what you’re promoting, they will be your biggest advocates. They will share your account with their friends just because of how much they love you. This will help you grow your page and make your community even stronger.

Find a niche. See what’s missing in your space and create it. Make good content that adds value.

Always have a takeaway. Your content should educate, entertain, or inspire. Bonus points for content that does all three.

If you don’t have anything good to post, don’t post anything. It is becoming more and more important to put content out there that is really, really good. You want people to stay on your profile longer (Instagram tracks this and it helps you stay relevant in the algorithm), so great photos and captions are key.

Be authentic and do YOU. It’s cliche, but there is only one you in this world and that’s why your community follows your account. Leverage that by showcasing your personality in everything you do.

Industry Day was particularly inspiring, but the real FUN came during the next two days of the Propel Fitness Festival Co:Labs, a weekend of killer workouts + awesome live music all at the beautiful Quixote Studios in West Hollywood.

I spent basically 24 hours at the space spending time with other #fitfriends and, of course, getting realllllly sweaty. I loved the braid bar, meditation space, and massages by Soothe (my body needed that!).

During the weekend, I checked out classes by Prevail, Pvolve, Training Mate, Get Fit with Giddy, and Nicole Winhoffer. While all were amazing, Nicole Winhoffer certainly takes the cake. Her iconic LA dance workout was done to live beats from Ludacris himself. I was thankful to use my press status to get as close as possible, and even got to snap a pic post sweat. Major fan girl moment!

If you haven’t had a chance to attend a Propel Fitness Festival experience, they’ll be popping up around the country all summer–stay tuned here. Fingers crossed for another incredible festival in LA next year!!

After years and years of being basically sedentary and unaware of healthy eating, I totally changed my ways because of a New Year’s resolution. While resolutions get a bad rap, I’m living proof that they can actually can work. Four years ago, I started the year with a simple idea. I wanted to move my body. I wanted to want to work out and eat healthy.

I was living in Memphis at the time (not exactly the epicenter of health + wellness, more like fried chicken + bbq), and working as a third grade teacher. After long days of teaching, I would come home utterly exhausted and not at all in the mood to cook or exercise. Over New Year’s Day brunch with a particularly motivated friend, she let me in on her little secret…that there really is NO secret…you just have to DO IT.

I know it sounds simple, and silly, maybe, but realizing that getting it done isn’t always as easy as it looks was life-changing for me. Instead of searching for motivation to go to the gym, I simply started just going to the gym. The rumor was true, after about three weeks I was hooked and literally haven’t looked back since.

I was thrilled when Kohl’s invited me to a day full of Tone It Up workouts in celebration of a healthy January + the launch of TIU’s new app–Studio Tone It Up. I previously attended one of the TIU retreats and LOVED the community, the workouts, and (of course) Karena and Katrina. Those girls have a way of encouraging everyone to try and do their best–and I love that.

#KohlsxStudioToneItUp was full of the TIU fit fam + delicious Perfect Fit protein smoothies + manis + massages + booch + lots of sweat + gorgeous athleisure. It was the absolute perfect way to start the day and to keep the energy strong as we head into week three of 2018.

About 80% of New Year’s resolutions fail by February but Kohl’s and I don’t want you to be one of them!! Here are my top four ways to stay motivated ALL YEAR!

Four Ways to Stay Motivated in 2018

Work out with friends or join a community. Something that is so great about TIU is the sense of community and therefore accountability. They encourage you to post your meals, #tiubootycall, and daily workouts on social media. It’s fun to brag about getting stuff done, and these gals definitely see the benefits of getting fit and healthy together. Personally, since leaving ClassPass I’ve seen the benefit of having a gym that I LOVE going to. It’s super encouraging when the people at the front desk at Equinox greet me by name. I’ve become a regular in the Thursday barre class and weekend spin classes. We don’t have to do this alone when there are so many people cheering for us!

Treat yourself to some cute athleisure. There’s nothing that makes me want to get to the gym more than having a cute new outfit to flaunt. I got so many compliments on my New Balance sneaks and adorable jacket–all reasonably priced from Kohl’s! You can take advantage of their functional + affordable activewear here. Pro tip: there are pretty much always additional discounts too! See below for Karena and Katrina’s fav picks.

Make a plan. Instead of taking it one day at a time, spend an hour or so on Sundays planning out your weekly workouts. Sundays are also the perfect time to grocery shop and meal prep. If you’re like me and don’t love a Sunday full of cooking, stock your fridge with some meals in mind. That way, when you get home from work and the gym, you aren’t caught empty handed and starving reaching for all the snacks!

Keep it FUN. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, there is NO REASON to dread your workouts. Find things that you love doing so you actually look forward to sweating. I love spin, barre, and pilates so I try to keep my weekly workouts heavy on those three. When I want to run on the treadmill, I try to find a good podcast (always taking recommendations) so I can feel productive and happy while I run. You’re way more likely to keep up the routine if you truly love it!

Current mood: I would do ANYTHING go to back to the Propel Fitness Festival.

The Let’s Get Ugly campaign with Propel Electrolyte Water has been nothing short of amazing. From photoshoots in NYC, to BlogFest in Vegas, it was only natural that it end with a sweaty bang here in Los Angeles.

Propel rented out the entire Quixote Studios in West Hollywood and transformed it into the most insane fitness mecca. With four gorgeous, amped up studios, the best workouts in the country, music geniuses, and thousands of fitness enthusiasts, it was a weekend like no other.

Let me be honest for a hot sec. The max number of classes you could sign up for pre-event was four…per day. Obviously, I did just that, but come the weekend I was not so thrilled about this decision. Although I adore working out on the weekends, I also love doing nothing (LOL). My original schedule looked like this:

Saturday

9am ModelFit

11am Soundbath Meditation

1pm Shay Mitchell x Harley Pasternak

3pm Barry’s Bootcamp x Vixen Workout

Sunday

11am Scott Foley x Gunnar Peterson

2pm Prevail Boxing

3pm Speedplay x Tone House

4pm The Class by Taryn Toomey

…But actually went down like this:

Saturday

11am Soundbath Meditation

12pm Fitness in the City x FIT36 (yes, literally wasn’t signed up, but it was amazing)

Since Propel is the only water to replace what is lost in sweat, it was no problem that the weekend was, in usual LA fashion, super hot and VERY sunny.

My weekend started with the most amazing meditation class by Inscape where we sat on small pillows in a deeply lit up room with headphones that led us through a gentle meditation session. I don’t have a ton of experience meditating but this environment was beautiful and I was able to relax quickly–as was Evan who joined me.

Once I was all zen-ed out, it was time to completely reverse that calmness and head to the Fitness in the City x FIT36 class. I chose this one because the set up was amazing–ropes and bands and wall sits, I could go on! The guys who run both studios are JACKED and SO FRIGGIN COOL it’s not even funny. They’re all so positive and motivating and I’ve had the pleasure of spending time with them throughout the Propel campaign.

That class wiped. me. out. so I decided to nix all previously scheduled plans and hit up the hotel pool for some R&R.

Sunday started off strong with an amazing sweat with celeb trainer Gunnar Peterson and the celeb himself, Scott Foley. The two were hilarious together and we ran through three circuits with a variety of exercises in each. It was tough but it was also so much fun–the perfect combo when you’re working out!

I spent the rest of the day enjoying all of the Fitness Festival amenities like the braid bar by Glamsquad, healthy pops by DreamPops, salad by sweetgreen, and the most amazing avocado toast by Di Alba.

This wall was made of tiny pics from our photo shoot! (with Rachel from @JustDimpleIt)

All in all the weekend was one for the books. I will never forget the memories I made with my fellow blogger gals, the sweaty workouts, and the guzzling of Propel Water. It was perfect and I am so thankful!! Make sure to follow @PropelWater to stay up to date on all future events!

This post is sponsored by Propel Electrolyte Water, but all opinions are my own.

I was first introduced to Siggi’s at BlogFest three years ago and fell in love with their tagline “Simple ingredients, not a lot of sugar.” I am a HUGE yogurt lover–if I’m not eating it for breakfast, I’m always having a carton for my 3pm snack. I’m turned off by brands that load on the jam like “fruit” that tastes and looks like pure sugar. I try to pick around it, but alas, I would much rather dig into a brand I trust–the more protein the better–enter Siggi’s.

I was thrilled to be invited to Siggi’s “Breakfast for Dinner” event in Santa Monica. The event was held at an awesome space — Stage + Table. We walked in and were immediately offered turmeric, matcha, or blueberry oat smoothies to sip on and a selection of wine if we were feeling a little more adventurous. Our name tags were spread throughout the kitchen and working tables and we soon found out that these were our cooking stations!

The entire premise of the evening was to work together in groups to cook dinner, and each dish utilized Siggi’s in a different way.

My group was in charge of the avocado toast–my personal specialty! I learned that including Siggi’s adds some protein into my favorite easy snack. You’ll find the recipe below!

While my group was bonding over #toasttuesday, the others were busy slaving away on pancakes, parfait, pizza, shashuka, kale salad, energy balls, and apple rounds. It was an incredible spread and so cool to see how Siggi’s can be used for sweet and savory dishes! Once everything was prepared, we all sat together at gorgeous wooden tables and feasted. Everything was amazing but I was particularly impressed by the pizza–Siggi’s was in the dough AND the sauce.

Thank you again for an amazing evening!

Siggi’s Avocado Toast

Need:

Whole grain bread, sliced

Avocado

Siggi’s pain 0% (about 3 tablespoons to every 1/2 an avocado)

Heirloom tomato

Microgreens

Chili flakes (optional)

Salt and pepper

How to:

Slice and toast bread

In a small bowl, mash avocado and Siggi’s. Season with salt, pepper, and chili flakes.

Spread mixture on the bread. Top with tomatoes and micro greens. Enjoy!

If it’s not the constant 75 degree weather and gorgeous sunshine that makes living in LA like a dream, it’s the access to hundreds of sweaty, top-notch workout classes. I started an entire blog/instagram off of attending such classes on the reg–from aerial fitness to spin class on a roof. As we all know, these premium classes come with a premium price tag, which is why it was even more clutch when the Propel Co:Labs came to town!

During the “Let’s Get Ugly” campaign, Propel traveled to cities across the US including NYC, Miami, Chicago, Denver, and last but not least, LA, bringing sweaty classes to fitness-fanatics for free. In true Propel fashion, classes rocked out with DJs, photobooths, and an unlimited amount of Propel Electrolyte Water to replenish the electrolytes lost in sweat.

I was lucky enough to attend two Co:Lab classes at two of my absolute favorite studios: Prevail Boxing and Speedplay. Both of these workouts are super unique to LA making them perfect spots for a Propel party!

Prevail is a boxing studio on 3rd and La Brea. Their signature class, Sweat, always follows the same circuit format. You start with a warm up, and then learn the boxing routine of the day. Once you’ve practiced a few times, you rotate in groups between five stations. Some stations involve practicing your punches on the heavy bag, doing plyometrics or ab work, and boxing against the instructors. Something I love about this studio is that they are extremely friendly and welcoming to newcomers. I always feel a little awkward, but they encourage trial and error and help you get into a fierce character.

I was sore from Prevail for five days (!!!!), but still made it to Speedplay two days later. Nothing beats the views at the Beverly Hills location (see below). Lucky enough, Evan joined me and the live DJ really kept the energy up throughout this crazy hard class. Speedplay is a high-intensity interval training workout with four stations: a Woodway Curve treadmill, rower, free weights, and body weight exercises. The treadmills are unlike anything else–instead of being powered by electricity, they are self-propelled, meaning they only go as fast as you go and you have to use your force just to make it move! This is why they’re oddly shaped and curved to really help you get going. If you want a killer booty workout, these treadmills will help!

While I also attended the Propel Co:Labs pop up last year in Venice, this year’s events were amazing and really allowed attendees to get to know the studio, the Propel brand, and each other. I had such a great time and can’t wait to see how it goes down next year!!

This post is sponsored by Propel Electrolyte Water, but all opinions are my own.

I am thrilled to say that this is the third year that I’ve attended Blogfest by Sweat Pink! It’s almost funny to see how much changes each year—strangers turn into familiar faces and I feel more and more comfortable networking and talking about Sweat and Repeat. I was such a tiny brand at my first time Blogfest and now I finally feel legitimate!

From learning more about search engine optimization to hearing how to effectively work with brands, it’s amazing to be in a room full of seasoned bloggers for two days straight. This year, I had the privilege of attending the conference with Propel Electrolyte Water, the only water that replenishes what your body loses in sweat. Propel hosted an awesome modelFIT workout on Friday morning (actually worth waking up for!!) and was one of the sponsors of BlogFest.

For those of you who weren’t able to make it to Vegas, here are my five takeaways from this year’s event.

1 Repurpose your content. Running out of blog ideas? Find evergreen content (stories that aren’t time sensitive and can be relevant forever) and change it up a bit. Hint: use Google analytics to figure out your most popular posts. If these posts are doing so well, figure out how you can re-write them so they are new, trendy, and engaging again.

2 Find an editor. I’m not talking about someone you pay to look over stories (although if you can do that, more power to ya!). I’m talking about a good friend, a parent, a cousin, etc. When we stare at our posts for hours, it’s hard to find typos and errors. Enlist a fresh pair of eyes to help out before you hit publish.

3 Understand the products that you post about. Brands notice when you can honestly speak about their product from experience. They want to work with people who pay attention to on-brand messaging, have new + unique ideas, and fit well with their product or company.

4 The importance of a pitch. If you want to make money guest blogging for a blog besides your own, the pitch is what will seal the deal. Effective pitch emails include the following: a compelling subject line, an intro where you explain your idea, why you’re qualified to write this piece, additional skills you can bring to the table (photography? social media?), and a concluding statement with links to published posts. Before the pitch, make sure that the blog you are reaching out to accepts guest posts!

5 Pick your own color on Instagram. Ok, this one I actually learned from one of my fellow Propel blogger babes, Torey at Torey’s Treasures. Did you know that you aren’t limited to the colors at the bottom of the Instagram screen?! Hold down a color and swipe up to activate a rainbow of colors to choose from. PS…if you have any more Insta story tricks…let me know!!

I am already looking forward to next year’s Blogfest and am so thankful that I was able to attend the conference + IDEA fitness expo with Propel!

I am thrilled to share that there are two chances for YOU to work out with ME + PROPEL!

Propel CoLabs are coming to Los Angeles from July 31st to August 5th and you can be there and sweat for FREE! Propel is teaming up with some incredible fitness studios + DJs to bring you the hottest workouts with modelFIT, Playlist Yoga, The Class by Taryn Toomey, Prevail, Speedplay, and NW Method. Sign up is LIVE so be sure to claim a spot asap here.

Los Angeles will also be home to Propel’s jam-packed Fitness Festival from August 11th-13th, a true celebration of what it means to Get Ugly during your workouts. Expect trendy, heart-pounding fitness classes, loud beats from well-known DJs, and celebrity appearances (yep, Shay Mitchell is going to be there!!!). Click here to buy your tickets and use the code TENOFF for $10 off! (PS…early bird pricing ends Friday, July 28th!) SEE YOU THERE!!!

This post is sponsored by Propel Electrolyte Water, but all opinions are my own.

As a sweetgreen ambassador for the last six months, I’ve had the pleasure of repping one of my favorite brands non-stop. If you follow me on social, you know that I am a die-hard sweetgreen fan–mostly because it allows me to be a picky eater yet still eat healthy.

Sweetgreen also has incredible ethics that they carry throughout their brand—everything is local, seasonal, sustainable, and responsibly sourced. Their food ethos state, “We believe the choices we make about what we eat, where it comes from and how it’s prepared have a direct and powerful impact on the health of individuals, communities and the environment.” Can I get an AMEN?!

After having so many fitness themed events, I wanted to host something unique and decided to team up with sweetgreen to create a one-of-a-kind experience: Passion for Pesto.

I invited my Instagram community to join me at sweetgreen Hollywood before walking over to the Hollywood Farmer’s Market and purchasing a very large bag of basil.

After exploring the market for a while, we headed back to the store to learn how to make the incredibly delicious pesto vinaigrette salad dressing. We also had the opportunity to learn more about the sweetgreen community while chatting and making new friends.

Each guest walked away with the cutest mason jar of dressing to use on their own creations, a cute sweetgreen tote, and the homemade hot sauce (because, why not?!)!

Thank you to everyone who joined me at the event—and to sweetgreen for being the best hosts!!